Lake Houston

At a glance

• Who owns and runs the lake Lake Houston is owned by the City of Houston. The Coastal Water Authority operates and maintains it under contract with the city. Texas Water Development Board
• Where the lake is The reservoir sits on the San Jacinto River in Harris County, about four miles north of Sheldon and 18 miles northeast of downtown Houston. Texas Water Development Board
• Size of the lake At its normal operating level of 42.4 feet above sea level, Lake Houston covers 11,282 acres and holds 134,122 acre-feet, based on TWDB's 2011 volumetric survey. Texas Water Development Board
• What the lake is for The lake was built as a water supply reservoir for municipal, industrial, irrigation, mining and recreational use. The SJRA notes it is now Houston's primary drinking water source. San Jacinto River Authority
• Watershed above the dam About 2,828 square miles drain into Lake Houston; 445 square miles of that are controlled by Lake Conroe's dam upstream. Texas Water Development Board
• Communities around the lake Partnership Lake Houston, the area's chamber and economic development group, lists Atascocita, Humble, Kingwood, Summerwood and Fall Creek as the area it serves. Huffman lies across the lake in eastern Harris County. Partnership Lake Houston
• Atascocita population and land area The 2020 Census counted 88,174 residents in the Atascocita census-designated place, which covers 23.88 square miles of land. Atascocita is unincorporated. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
• City of Humble population The Census Bureau estimates the City of Humble at 16,484 residents as of July 1, 2025 (16,795 in the 2020 Census), on 9.76 square miles of land. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
• Kingwood is inside the City of Houston Kingwood (Super Neighborhood 43) is part of the City of Houston, in Council District E. It is bounded by Lake Houston on the east and south, and most of it is in Harris County with a part in Montgomery County. City of Houston

History and development

• Dam built 1951-1953 Construction of the Lake Houston dam began in November 1951 and was completed in December 1953; the lake began filling on April 9, 1954. Texas Water Development Board
• Original dam design The dam is an earthfill embankment with a concrete spillway section, designed by Ambursen Engineering and built by Elmer Gardner Construction and Swope Brothers. It sits just below where the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto River meet. Handbook of Texas (Texas State Historical Association)
• Kingwood annexed in 1996 The City of Houston annexed Kingwood in 1996, at the end of the Bob Lanier administration. City of Houston
• Huffman settled 1839 Huffman, on FM 2100 and FM 1960 in eastern Harris County, was first settled in 1839 by David Huffman; a post office opened in 1888. Handbook of Texas (Texas State Historical Association)
• From state park to city park Texas bought the land that became Lake Houston State Park from Champion Paper in 1981; it opened for day use in 1992. The state transferred it to the City of Houston on Aug. 25, 2006, and it was renamed Lake Houston Wilderness Park. Houston Parks and Recreation Department
• Deussen Park donated 1956 Petroleum geologist Alexander Deussen donated the land for Alexander Deussen Park on the south side of the lake to Harris County in 1956. Harris County Precinct One
• Area chamber dates to 1923 Partnership Lake Houston began as the Humble Chamber of Commerce, became the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, and merged with the area's economic development partnership in October 2020. It marked its 100th year in 2023. Community Impact
• Seasonal lowering began after Harvey After Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, the San Jacinto River Authority began a temporary seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe in August 2018, and the City of Houston agreed to pre-release water from Lake Houston ahead of heavy rain. Community Impact

Homes and architecture

• Lakeside subdivisions The HAR 2025 facts table on this page covers five neighborhoods near the lake: Kingwood Kings Point Village, Kingwood Lake Village, Walden on Lake Houston (Olympic Village), and Lakeshore and Water Edge in 77044. Values differ widely by neighborhood, so compare them separately. HAR.com
• Lakeshore (77044) Lakeshore, near West Lake Houston Parkway and Madera Run Parkway, has about 1,151 single-family homes, finished building out in 2009 and is served by Harris County MUD 412 and Humble ISD. Community Impact
• Walden on Lake Houston Walden on Lake Houston has a country club founded in 1984 with a golf course designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin, at 18100 Walden Forest Drive in Humble. Ask the association about any required club membership. Walden on Lake Houston Golf & Country Club
• Kingwood lakeside infrastructure financing TIRZ 10 (Lake Houston) was created to replace utility districts absorbed in the 1996 Kingwood annexation, financing water, sewer and drainage for Friendswood Development's lakeside subdivisions; a 1999 expansion let three more developers use it. City of Houston Economic Development

Market snapshot and homes for sale

Values exactly as HAR.com shows them for each neighborhood (2025 data), checked Oct. 21, 2026. Neighborhood figures are not the value of any one home: request a property-specific pricing review.

• Values vary by neighborhood HAR's 2025 facts show lakeside-area neighborhoods ranging from 1970s Kingwood sections to 2010s west-shore communities, with very different lot sizes and values; see the per-neighborhood table. HAR's listing price per square foot and sold price per square foot are different measures. HAR.com
• Generation Park employment center Generation Park, a 4,300-acre McCord development headquartered at 250 Assay Street (77044), is planned for life science, industrial, office, education and multifamily uses near the lake's west shore. Generation Park (McCord)

Live listings in Lake Houston

Every active listing from every brokerage, through our HAR.com MLS search. This search covers ZIP code 77345, Kingwood’s lakeside villages; for Atascocita or Huffman, change the ZIP code to 77346 or 77336 in the search filters.

Listings provided through HAR.com (Houston Association of REALTORS® Information Service); information believed accurate but not guaranteed. Open this search in a new window · Search all Houston homes

Property taxes, districts and exemptions

Tax bills depend on the exact taxing units on a property. These are the official rates we could confirm, with the year; check the appraisal district account for the units on any address.

• Every address has its own mix Unincorporated addresses around the lake usually add a MUD and an ESD; city addresses do not. The HCAD account lists each property's taxing units, and the Comptroller's special district database lists MUD contacts. Texas Comptroller

Schools

• Humble ISD school finder Humble ISD's School Finder shows zoned campuses for an address but warns results may be inaccurate and should not be used alone for a purchase decision; confirm with the district. Humble ISD School Finder (PASA)
• Lake Houston Middle School Humble ISD trustees approved an attendance zone for the new Lake Houston Middle School, which was scheduled to open for the 2025-26 school year. Community Impact
• Huffman ISD zoning lookup Huffman ISD serves the east side of the lake around Huffman. Its zoning lookup is for reference only; final assignments are made at enrollment (24302 FM 2100, 281-324-1871). Huffman ISD
• Crosby ISD attendance zones Crosby ISD (14670 FM 2100, 281-328-9200) posts an attendance zones document rather than an address lookup; call the district to confirm an address. Crosby ISD
• New Caney ISD street listing North of the lake near Lake Houston Wilderness Park, New Caney ISD posts a 2026-2027 districtwide street listing and zone maps for each level (281-577-8600). New Caney ISD

School assignments and attendance boundaries can change. Confirm the assigned schools directly with the district before making a housing decision.

Flood maps and drainage research

No guide can tell you whether a particular house has flooded or will flood. These are the official tools and records to research an address, and the public projects that affect drainage.

• Built for water supply HCFCD notes that Lake Houston was built as a water supply reservoir and provides little flood storage. Harris County Flood Control District
• San Jacinto River watershed HCFCD lists the San Jacinto River watershed at about 4,500 square miles in seven counties, about 487 of them in Harris County, flowing through Lake Conroe and Lake Houston. Harris County Flood Control District
• Current dam release capacity The existing dam is mostly a spillway with four small gates that release about 10,000 cubic feet per second. Community Impact
• Spillway Improvement Project The City of Houston and the Coastal Water Authority plan to add 11 gates to the dam, raising release capacity from 10,000 to 79,000 cubic feet per second. Community Impact reported (Dec. 2025) a $224 million cost, final design and permitting set to begin in December 2026, and construction from summer 2028 to winter 2030. Community Impact
• Spillway funding gap As of December 2025, about $143.4 million of the spillway project was secured from FEMA hazard mitigation grants, the Legislature, the city and Harris County, leaving a gap of roughly $80.6 million. Community Impact
• HCFCD Lake Houston Gates partnership HCFCD's bond project CI-028 is a partnership with the City of Houston to plan, design and build additional gates; Commissioners Court authorized it on Nov. 10, 2020. Harris County Flood Control District
• Dam void and concrete repairs Separately, the CWA is designing a roughly $10 million FEMA-funded project to fill voids under the dam, repair degraded concrete and add groundwater drainage, listed for 2025 through 2027. Community Impact
• Dam replacement study The CWA and Black & Veatch began a study in 2025 of options to replace the 1953 dam, which officials describe as nearing the end of its service life. Community Impact
• Lake Conroe / Lake Houston joint operations study SJRA, the City of Houston and the City of Humble are running a study (up to $1 million, half from a TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund grant) on operating both lakes, including pre-releases, a Lake Houston forecasting tool and a gate policy for the new spillway gates. Public meeting 2 is set for Nov. 5, 2026; a draft report is expected spring 2027. Lake Conroe / Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study
• Lake lowering protocol (2022) Protocols approved by SJRA (Dec. 23, 2021) and Houston Public Works (Jan. 20, 2022) lowered Lake Conroe 6 inches in spring and up to 1 foot in fall, and called for 1 foot of capacity in Lake Houston when 3 inches or more of rain in 24 hours is forecast. They ran through 2023; the city can call for more releases in major storms. Community Impact
• Dredging partnership HCFCD project CI-61 gives the City of Houston $10 million (agreement approved Oct. 12, 2021) for continued dredging on Lake Houston and the East and West Forks. HCFCD manages the streams that flow into the lake, not the lake itself. Harris County Flood Control District
• Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District A Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District now oversees ongoing dredging. It cannot levy taxes or fees; its board began planning in August 2026 and is preparing a funding plan for the 2027 legislative session. Officials say about $175 million has gone to Lake Houston dredging since Harvey. Community Impact
• City watershed analysis Houston Public Works' San Jacinto watershed analysis models the Kingwood and Lake Houston area; it reports riverine flooding along the West and East Forks in larger storms and channel flooding on Mills Branch and Taylor Gully. Houston Public Works
• East-side drainage studies HCFCD's F-110 Huffman Area Drainage Analysis (roughly the Huffman ISD area) is in preliminary engineering, and its proposed Luce Bayou bypass channel was cancelled. F-111 is a separate planning study east of Lake Houston authorized in 2020. Harris County Flood Control District
• Atascocita drainage analysis HCFCD's F-15 Atascocita Area Drainage Analysis studies flood risk along tributaries south of the West Fork and west of Lake Houston. Harris County Flood Control District
• FEMA effective flood map FEMA's Map Service Center shows the official effective flood map for an address; search by street address, place name or coordinates. FEMA
• Draft MAAPnext maps MAAPnext draft flood maps for Harris County are for awareness only and cannot be used for insurance or regulatory decisions. FEMA plans to release preliminary maps followed by a formal appeal period. Harris County Flood Control District (MAAPnext)
• New flood map timeline Community Impact reported (Feb. 2026) that FEMA sent draft data on Feb. 2, 2026, the first countywide update since 2007, with formal appeals planned for February-May 2027 and map approval expected in November 2028. Officials said insurance requirements are unchanged for now. Community Impact
• HCFCD Flood Education Mapping Tool HCFCD's mapping tool shows mapped floodways, 1% and 0.2% floodplains, watersheds, ponding and channels by address. Harris County Flood Control District
• Flood Warning System The Harris County Flood Warning System shows rain and water-level gages, finds the nearest gage to an address, and sends text or email alerts. Harris County Flood Control District
• Lake level readings The Coastal Water Authority posts Lake Houston's current level against its 42.4-foot normal pool and lists weather and flood warning resources. Coastal Water Authority

More: Houston flood maps and flood questions.

Parks, trails and recreation

• Lake Houston Wilderness Park The city's nearly 5,000-acre park at 25840 FM 1485 in New Caney has more than 20 miles of trails, over 13 miles of equestrian trails, the Joe Turner Nature Center, an archery range and the only overnight camping, cabins and lodges in the city park system. Houston Parks and Recreation Department
• No public boat access from the park Lake Houston Wilderness Park has no public boat access to the lake; paddlers can paddle from the park's canoe launch to the lake, about 5 miles one way. Entry is $3 per person ages 13-64. The park office is closed Tuesdays and the nature center Mondays and Tuesdays. Houston Parks and Recreation Department
• Alexander Deussen Park Harris County Precinct One's 309-acre park at 12303 Sonnier St. (77044) on the lake's south side has boat launches and a T-pier, pavilions, trails, a dog park, fishing access and a senior center. Harris County Precinct One
• Free public ramp TPWD lists Deussen Park as the lake's no-fee public ramp, with two ramps (eight lanes) plus a sailboat ramp, open dawn to dusk; its other listed ramps are at privately operated marinas that charge a fee. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Kingwood's lake parks (residents) The Kingwood Service Association's East End Park (158.5 acres, about 2 miles of lake frontage) and River Grove Park (74 acres, boat ramp to Lake Houston) are private parks for Kingwood residents and their accompanied guests. Kingwood Association Management
• Atascocita Park Atascocita Park, a 21-acre county park at 17302 W. Lake Houston Pkwy., opened June 24, 2020, with a playground, pavilion, 1.5-acre dog park and a boardwalk around a 2-acre pond. Community Impact
• Fishing TPWD lists blue catfish as the lake's top sportfish, with largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie and bluegill; statewide regulations apply, and a city ordinance bans bow fishing on Lake Houston. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Golf nearby: Houston golf courses and golf communities.

Restaurants and shopping

Listed because the business’s own site, current social account or a recent news report confirms it is open. Not a review or a ranking.

• Sharky's Waterfront Grill Seafood and burger grill with a kids menu at 1660 W. Lake Houston Pkwy., Suite 104, Kingwood, on the Kings Harbor waterfront. Sharky's Waterfront Grill
• Raffa's Waterfront Grill Waterfront grill serving American food at 1660 W. Lake Houston Pkwy. #103, Kingwood. Raffa's
• Zammitti's Italian Ristorante Italian restaurant serving lunch and dinner on the lake at 1660 W. Lake Houston Pkwy., Suite 101, Kingwood. Zammitti's
• Chimichurri's South American Grill South American grill at 1660 W. Lake Houston Pkwy. in Kingwood (closed Mondays). Chimichurri's

New construction and builders

• Stillwater on Lake Houston Generation Park lists Stillwater on Lake Houston, developed and built by Taylor Morrison on the lake's western edge in Humble ISD, with a planned recreation center, pool and playground. Generation Park (McCord)
• The Groves The Groves is a 993-acre private master-planned community from Crescent Communities just west of Lake Houston, in Humble ISD. Generation Park (McCord)

See verified builder incentives and the builder directory.

Getting around

We name the roads and transit options; we do not quote drive times, because they change with the hour and the exact address.

• US 59 / I-69 Kingwood straddles US 59 (I-69) north of the San Jacinto River; US 59 is the freeway on the lake area's west side. City of Houston
• FM 1960 across the lake FM 1960 crosses Lake Houston on the McKay Bridge between Atascocita and Huffman. TxDOT's $128.2 million project widened FM 1960 from Business 1960 to the bridge's western approach to six divided lanes, with work expected to wrap up in early 2026. Community Impact
• West Lake Houston Parkway West Lake Houston Parkway is the main north-south road on the lake's west side; Community Impact places Lakeshore (77044) near its intersection with Madera Run Parkway. Community Impact
• Beltway 8 / Mount Houston Road On the south side, TPWD directs drivers to Deussen Park from I-69 by Mount Houston Road east past Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• East side: FM 2100 Huffman, on the lake's east side, sits on FM 2100 and FM 1960. Handbook of Texas (Texas State Historical Association)
• Northpark Drive rebuild The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 10) is rebuilding Northpark Drive as six divided lanes from I-69 to Woodland Hills Drive, including an overpass over the rail line and Loop 494; the Loop 494 intersection was closed as of October 2026. Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority

City services, utilities and rules

• Lake supplies Houston's water The CWA runs the Lake Houston Pump Station and West Canal (contract with the city since Jan. 1, 1996), moving lake water to the city's East Water Purification Plant and industrial customers. Coastal Water Authority
• Luce Bayou transfer The CWA's Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project, finished in 2020, moves Trinity River water into Lake Houston through a 500 MGD pump station, 3 miles of pipeline and 23.5 miles of canal. Coastal Water Authority
• Northeast Water Purification Plant The $1.97 billion expansion of the Northeast Water Purification Plant in Humble raises its capacity from 80 to 400 million gallons a day to help the region shift from groundwater to surface water. Community Impact
• City water accounts City of Houston addresses, including Kingwood, set up water service through Houston Public Works utility billing (713-371-1400, weekdays 8 a.m.-7 p.m.). Houston Public Works
• Atascocita fire service The Atascocita Fire Department, funded by Harris County ESD 46, covers about 25 square miles between the West Fork San Jacinto River, Lake Houston, the City of Humble and the Union Pacific tracks. Atascocita Fire Department
• Pier permits Building or majorly repairing a pier, dock, boathouse or gangway on Lake Houston needs a City of Houston construction permit with a plat, plans and any state or federal permits; each lakefront residential lot may have only one pier. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
• Bulkhead permits Building or majorly repairing a bulkhead on the lake needs a city permit with a plat showing the property boundaries and bulkhead location; the fee is $130.08 for the first 100 linear feet plus a $33.56 admin fee, and bulkheads are inspected periodically. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
• Vessels docked on the lake Vessels docked on Lake Houston need a City of Houston annual vessel license ($65.04 plus a $33.56 admin fee) with a metal pier tag visible to Lake Houston Patrol. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
• Commercial and HOA piers Commercial piers, including those of homeowners associations and private clubs, and piers mooring more than two licensed vessels need an annual pier license. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
• Lake Houston Office Pier, bulkhead and vessel applications are made in person at the city's Lake Houston Office, 22627 W. Shorewood Loop Dr., Huffman; inspections are scheduled at 832-395-6620. Dredging or excavating in the lake's control area also needs a permit. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
• Debris and weeds The CWA treats invasive plants to protect the city's water intakes but not private canals or properties; floating debris is the abutting owner's or HOA's job, or can be reported to Houston 311. Coastal Water Authority
• Lake Patrol TPWD lists the Coastal Water Authority as the lake's controlling authority, with a Lake Patrol line at (832) 394-9854. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Temporary lake drawdowns The city lowers the lake at times for inspections or dam work, for example 12 inches in October 2023, and asks shoreline owners to secure their property. Houston Public Works

Buyer due-diligence checklist

Tick items as you go; your ticks stay on this device. Print the checklist.

1. Pull the HCAD account Look up the address to see its taxing units (city or MUD, ESD, school district), exemptions and value history. Harris Central Appraisal District
2. Check the official flood maps Search the address on FEMA's Map Service Center, compare HCFCD's mapping tool and MAAPnext drafts, and ask for an elevation certificate and flood insurance history. FEMA
3. Verify pier and bulkhead permits For a lakefront lot, ask the seller for city permits and inspections for the pier and bulkhead, and the current pier tag; confirm records with the Lake Houston Office (832-395-6620). Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
4. Get a survey showing the shoreline Order a survey that shows the lot lines, bulkhead and pier; the city requires a plat with property boundaries for any bulkhead work. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
5. Budget for boat licensing If you will keep a boat at the dock, plan for the city's annual vessel license and pier tag. Houston Permitting Center (Houston Public Works)
6. Confirm the school district Lake-area addresses can be in Humble, Huffman, Crosby or New Caney ISD; use the district's own lookup and confirm by phone. Huffman ISD
7. Research the utility district For unincorporated addresses, find the MUD on the HCAD account and check it in the Comptroller's special district database. Texas Comptroller
8. Sign up for lake and rain alerts Find the nearest gage in the Flood Warning System, sign up for alerts, and watch the CWA's posted lake level. Harris County Flood Control District
9. File your homestead exemption After moving in, file with HCAD; its Info and Exemptions app needs your move-in date and Texas driver's license. Harris Central Appraisal District